I love turbine engines. I love 185s.

That thing is ugly.

I flew a Soloy 206 out of Brewster, WA for a year prior to USAF Pilot Training. You were correct with the 420HP memory. Airplane climbed like a scolded ape, descended faster than was comfortable for most passengers and even a few pilots. It really wasn't much faster than a piston 206 though, maybe 10 KTS, at least at reasonable fuel flows. With 2 pilots and 3 pax, we easily went from Brewster, WA to Petaluma, CA nonstop. One area that needed attention was the prop governor. A rapid power application would easily overwhelm the governor's ability to handle/control the power. You would get 3-4 surges from the prop before it would stabilize. Of course, with that much horsepower, there wasn't much need for full throttle on a go-around or for rapid application on takeoff. We rarely flew the airplane at max gross, and we weren't trying to make money with it, so I can't address much of those issues. We ran it on Stove Oil, that was about 60cents/gal back in the early 90's!


Jughead

Here's the one I saw at YYJ.

Last year I contacted Soloy about this conversion and here is what Art Gunderson had to say:

Do you guys offer a Turbine Cessna 185 conversion?

"Unfortunately we do not have a certified conversion for the Cessna 185. We originally started with the 185 with our development of the turbine pac in about 1978 but decided early that there was not enough market for the STC on that model and switched to the 206 then the 206H.

One customer, using our Turbine Pac did do his own 185 conversion as an experimental aircraft and another did the same type of conversion on a Cessna A188. Anything is possible…"

Thanks Art. What's the cost of a Turbine PAC that might be a basis for an experimental build?

"If you provide your own engine the basic parts of the Turbine pac end up being about $150,000 including prop gearbox, engine truss mount, vibration isolators, governors, oil tank, oil cooler, exhaust stacks, starter generator, tach generators, prop, spinner, engine controls and drive shafting etc. This does not include the firewall to engine mount, engine inlet, instruments or cowlings. The used 250-C20S engines range in price from about $200,000 to $300,000 on top of the T-Pac parts depending on time remaining. The 250C20S engines are usually made by modifying a used model 250C20B helicopter engine so that the exhaust is pointed down.

You might consider using a used 250-B17C turboprop engine rather than our Turbine- pac. The engines are lighter since they have their own prop gearbox and there is no need for a separate drive shaft system. There are a few used 250B17C engines on the market left over from post –Vietnam War era dismantled Nomads etc. Some of the engines actually come with the airframe leftovers such as starter prop & controls. If it’s an experimental project, you might find some deals out there. We can help with oil system, instrument systems and exhaust.

Might call Paramount Parts in Millville, NJ. 856-327-8991 http://www.paramountparts.com . Eric or Dave there deal in the used turbine market for these model engines."

Thanks Art. That's excellent information.

One final question (at this stage), taking a certified aircraft to experimental does not put it under the same category as say my experimental supercub, but more like a restricted category for say an ag plane. Am I correct?

"Not restricted and not like the amateur built experimental Super Cub. There are about 5 categories of experimental aircraft. You would need to see which one best applies to you and pursue that avenue.
The fellow who did the 185 in Canada went for and received a 1-time STC. Unfortunately he passed away a few months ago and we are not sure where his airplane ended up."

daedaluscan wrote:Just turned up at my home airport. Haven't talked to the owner yet. I also coincidentally saw a 206 Soloy at Victoria yesterday. Neither of them the prettiest, but sure look like a lot of usefulness.

Interesting, this is the first of these converted Allison/Rolls-Royce setups I've seen that can be shut down in beta vs feather. Various Soloy reps I've talked to over the years said this wasn't possible in their installation using the Hartzell prop. Being able to shut down in beta(neutral) and more importantly start up again makes much more utility as a floatplane. Curious how this gentleman was able to do this...


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The M7-420 Maule was certificated with the B17C version of the Allison.
The similar engine used on Hughes 500 and Bell jet ranger helicopters a Sia Marchetti, a Bucker Jungmeister, Nomad twin and many others.
It is flat rated at 369 shp and torque or temp limited dependent on ambient temp at the moment.
The Maule could get close to 195mph TAS but the airframe was limited to 145mph IAS so 175 TAS was more acceptable.
Fuel burn can be as low as 17gph but more normal is from 21- 25 gph. It is 9gph at ground idle.
We had 85 gal tanks in ours and configuered 110 gal total for ferry. The engine was rebuilt to tighter tolerances to test at 449.3 shp.
On amphib floats we used a 90" three blade prop, rpm 2050 and that can be dialed back quite a bit, on wheels we used a shorter set of blades.
With STCs the gross weight was increased from 2750 normal on floats to 3200lbs. It is quite a machine, though I no longer fly it.
Originally it was on EDO 2500 amphibs and light came off the plough to edge of the step and kept on climbing. We put it on EDO 2790 amphibs but the tails are longer and with too fast rotation could catch the heels in the water. It is now on Aerocets.

The 185 is for sale. PM if interested and Ill hook you up with the seller. It is not cheap.

Speaking of overcompensating - lol.

This Luscombe was apparently for sale back a few years - I've not seen any flying videos - but why someone chose a Luscombe as the recipient is beyond me.

https://youtu.be/e3jyhhFUrgM

Farmboy wrote:Speaking of overcompensating - lol.

This Luscombe was apparently for sale back a few years - I've not seen any flying videos - but why someone chose a Luscombe as the recipient is beyond me.

https://youtu.be/e3jyhhFUrgM

That Luscombe is still for sale at KDVT Deer Valley Phoenix. I drive past it every week.